al dente

[al den-tey, -tee, ahl den-te] / æl ˈdɛn teɪ, -ti, ɑl ˈdɛn tɛ /

ADJECTIVE

of a firmer texture when cooked

Synonyms

WEAK

firm medium

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tossed with olive oil, tomatoes, jalapeño, feta and Parmesan cheese, the expertly al dente Rustichella rigatoni is not your everyday mac ‘n’ cheese dinner.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

Add the asparagus and let everything turn glossy for a few minutes, then toss with sweet snap peas, chives and al dente pasta.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The finished dish should be incredibly silky and thick, with perfectly al dente noodles slicked in a rich, lemony sauce.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2025

Once it is just shy of al dente, drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024

They resembled noodles that had been cooked al dente.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston